Handbook of Information Security Management
(Publisher: CRC Press LLC)
Author(s): Hal Tipton and Micki Krause, Consulting Editors
ISBN: 0849399475
Publication Date: 01/01/98

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INTERNAL/EXTERNAL APPLICATIONS

Most companies segment their networks and use firewalls to separate the internal and external networks. Most have also chosen to push their marketing, publications, and services to the public side of the firewall using file servers and Web servers. There are benefits and challenges to each of these approaches. It is difficult to keep data synchronized when duplicating applications outside the network. It is also difficult to ensure the security of those applications and the integrity of the information. Outside the firewall is simply outside, and therefore also outside the protections of the internal security environment. It is possible to protect that information and the underlying system through the use of new security technologies for authentication and authorization. These techniques are not without trade-offs in terms of cost and ongoing administration, management, and support.

Security goals for external applications that bridge the gap between internal and external, and for internal applications using the Internet, intranet, and WWW technologies should all address these traditional security controls:

  • Authentication
  • Authorization
  • Access control
  • Audit
  • Security administration

Some of what you already used can be ported to the new environment, and some of the techniques and supporting infrastructure already in place supporting mainframe-based applications can be applied to securing the new technologies.

Using the Internet and other public networks is an attractive option, not only for conducting business-related transactions and electronic commerce, but also for providing remote access for employees, sharing information with business partners and customers, and supplying products and services. However, public networks create added security challenges for IS management and security practitioners, who must devise security systems and solutions to protect company computing, networking, and information resources. Security is a CRITICAL component.

Two watchdog groups are trying to protect online businesses and consumers from hackers and fraud. The council of Better Business Bureaus has launched BBBOnline, a service that provides a way to evaluate the legitimacy of online businesses. In addition, the national computer security association, NCSA, launched a certification program for secure WWW sites. Among the qualities that NCSA looks for in its certification process are extensive logging, the use of encryption including those addressed in this chapter, and authentication services.

There are a variety of protection measures that can be implemented to reduce the threats in the Web/server environment, making it more acceptable for business use. Direct server protection measures include secure Web server products which use differing designs to enhance the security over user access and data transmittal. In addition to enhanced secure Web server products, the Web server network architecture can also be addressed to protect the server and the corporate enterprise which could be placed in a vulnerable position due to server enabled connectivity. Both secure server and secure Web server designs will be addressed, including the application and benefits to using each.

Exhibit 3. Where are your Users?

WHERE ARE YOUR USERS?

Discuss how the access point where your users reside contributes to the risk and the security solutions set. Discuss the challenge when users are all over the place and you have to rely on remote security services that are only as good as the users’ correct usage. Issues of evolving technologies can also be addressed. Concerns for multiple layering of controls and dissatisfied users with layers of security controls, passwords, hoops, etc. can also be addressed.

WEB BROWSER SECURITY STRATEGIES

Ideally, Web browser security strategies should use a network-based security architecture that integrates your company’s external Internet and the internal intranet security policies. Ensure that users on any platform, with any browser, can access any system from any location if they are authorized and have a “need-to-know.” Be careful not to adopt the latest evolving security product from a new vendor or an old vendor capitalizing on a hot marketplace.

Recognizing that the security environment is changing rapidly, and knowing that we don’t want to change our security strategy, architecture, and control mechanisms every time a new product or solution emerges, we need to take time and use precautions when devising browser security solutions. It is sometimes a better strategy to stick with the vendors that you have already invested in and negotiate with them to enhance their existing products, or even contract with them to make product changes specific or tailored to accommodate your individual company requirements. Be careful in these negotiations as it is extremely likely that other companies have the very same requirements. User groups can also form a common position and interface to vendors for added clout and pressure.

You can basically secure your Web server as much as or as little as you wish with the current available security products and technologies. The trade offs are obvious: cost, management, administrative requirements, and time. Solutions can be hardware, software and personnel intensive.

Enhancing the security of the Web server itself has been a paramount concern since the first Web server initially emerged, but progress has been slow in deployment and implementation. As the market has mushroomed for server use, and the diversity of data types that are being placed on the server has grown, the demand has increased for enhanced Web server security. Various approaches have emerged, with no single de facto standard yet emerging (though there are some early leaders — among them Secure Sockets Layer [SSL] and Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol [S-HTTP]). These are two significantly different approaches, but both widely seen in the marketplace.

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